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Indian Railways to restart more special trains this month; see full train list with restoration dates

These special trains will offer a smooth, safe and convenient rail travelling experience to passengers. railways, special trains. The national transporter has decided to restart several special train services from this month. Restoration of IRCTC Special Trains: Once again fast and safe special train services are ready to take Indian Railways passengers to their destinations. In view of the increasing demand of railway passengers and with a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country, the national transporter has decided to restart several special train services from this month. According to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, these special trains will offer a smooth, safe and convenient rail travelling experience to passengers. Here is the full list of Indian Railways’ special train services along with their routes and dates of restoration: Train Number 4202 from Partapgarh to Varanasi starting on July 1 Train Number 4201 from Varanasi to Partapgarh starting on July 1 Train Number 4203 from Faizabad to Lucknow starting on July 1 Train Number 4204 from Lucknow to Faizabad starting on July 1 Train Number 4303 from Bareilly to Delhi starting on July 2 Train Number 4304 from Delhi to Bareilly starting on July 1 Train Number 4305 from Balamu to Shahjehanpur starting on July 1 Train Number 4306 from Shahjehanpur to Balamu starting on July 4 Train Number 4636 from Firozpur Cantt. to Ludhiyana starting on July 1 Train Number 4635 from Ludhiyana to Firozpur Cantt. starting on July 1 Train Number 4513 from Nangal Dam to Daulatpur Chowk starting on July 1 Train Number 4514 from Daulatpur Chowk to Nangal Dam starting on July 3 Train Number 4213 from Lucknow to Kanpur Central starting on July 1 Train Number 4214 from Kanpur Central to Lucknow starting on July 1 Train Number 4503 from Ambala Cantt. to Ludhiana starting on July 1 Train Number 4504 from Ludhiana to Ambala Cantt. starting on July 1 Train Number 4404 from Saharanpur to Delhi starting on July 1 Train Number 4301 from Moradabad to Saharanpur starting on July 1 Train Number 4302 from Saharanpur to Moradabad starting on July 1 Train Number 4633 from Jalandhar City to Firozpur Cantt. starting on July 1 Train Number 4634 from Firozpur Cantt. to Jalandhar City starting on July 3 Train Number 4637 from Jalandhar City to Firozpur Cantt. starting on July 1 Train Number 4638 from Firozpur Cantt. to Jalandhar City starting on July 1 Train Number 4459 from Delhi to Saharanpur starting on July 1 Train Number 4461 from Delhi to Rohtak starting on July 1 Train Number 4462 from Rohtak to Delhi starting on July 2 Train Number 4455 from New Delhi to Ghaziabad starting on July 1 Train Number 4626 from Firozpur Cantt. to Ludhiana starting on July 1 Train Number 4625 from Ludhiana to Firozpur Cantt. starting on July 1 Train Number 4627 from Firozpur Cantt. to Fazilka starting on July 1 Train Number 4628 from Fazilka to Firozpur Cantt. starting on July 2 Train Number 4629 from Ludhiana to Lohian Khas starting on July 1 Train Number 4630 from Lohian Khas to Ludhiana starting on July 1 Train Number 4632 from Firozpur Cantt. to Bhatinda starting on July 1 Train Number 4631 from Bhatinda to Fazilka starting on July 2 Train Number 4643 from Firozpur Cantt. to Fazilka starting on July 2 Train Number 4644 from Fazilka to Firozpur Cantt. starting on July 1 Train Number 4659 from Amritsar to Pathankot starting on July 1 Train Number 4660 from Pathankot to Amritsar starting on July 2 Train Number 4263 from Varanasi to Sultanpur starting on July 2 Train Number 4264 from Sultanpur to Varanasi starting on July 1 Train Number 4267 from Varanasi to Partapgarh starting on July 1 Train Number 4268 from Partapgarh to Varanasi starting on July 2 Train Number 4523 from Saharanpur to Nangal Dam starting on July 1 Train Number 4524 from Nangal Dam to Ambala Cantt. starting on July 2 Train Number 4532 from Ambala Cantt. to Saharanpur starting on July 2 Train Number 4327 from Sitapur City to Kanpur Central starting on July 2 Train Number 4328 from Kanpur Central to Sitapur City starting on July 3 Train Number 4334 from Najibabad to Gajraula starting on July 1 Train Number 4333 from Gajraula to Najibabad starting on July 1

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Hawaii to waive COVID test requirement for vaccinated travellers from July 8

Travelling to Hawaii is all set to become easier for vaccinated travellers. As per the reports, beginning July 8, Hawaii will end its pre-travel COVID testing requirement for visitors from the US mainland, who are fully vaccinated. This was recently announced by Hawaii Gov. David Ige. Travelers will, however, be required to show their vaccine card. As per the Hawaii’s Health Department, by that date, Ige said Hawaii will have reached a 60 per cent statewide vaccination rate. At present, 62 per cent of all residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine, whereas 57 per cent are fully vaccinated. Reportedly, unvaccinated visitors will be required to get tested before traveling at a ‘trusted partner’ site if they wish to skip the quarantine. The new rules come weeks after Hawaii has lifted all restrictions on inter-county travel and started allowing fully vaccinated residents, who received their COVID-19 shots in Hawaii, to travel back to Hawaii without requiring to get a pre-travel test or quarantine. In May, the state also relaxed restrictions relating to outdoor mask mandate, which was in line as per the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ige also stated that when Hawaii hits the 70 per cent overall vaccination rate, it will lift all travel restrictions. He added that beyond travel protocols, restaurants will also be allowed to increase capacity up to 75 per cent on July 8.

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RT-PCR negative report or vaccination certificate mandatory for travellers from Maharashtra

Passengers entering Karnataka from neighbouring state Maharashtra will have to either show RT-PCR negative report or certificate for covid vaccination, stated an official order issued on Tuesday. The move comes at the backdrop of the Delta plus variant which, according to INSACOG (a consortium of laboratories for whole Genome sequencing in the context of Covid-19 ), was detected in certain districts of Maharashtra. This is one of the special surveillance measures taken in the places across the state to curb the spread of virus, said Chief Secretary P Ravikumar. The statement says that the RT-PCR negative report shouldn’t be older than 72 hours. In the case of a vaccination certificate, it should show that at least one dose of vaccine has been administered in a person’s body. The above rule would be applicable to all passengers entering Karnataka travelling by flight, train or any other convenience. - In case of emergency The deputy commissioners of all districts sharing borders with Maharashtra–Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Vijayapura and Bidar have also been asked to deploy adequate staff at check posts to ensure that rules are being followed. Constitutional functionaries, health workers and children below the age of two have been exempted from the rule. Also, at the time of emergency situations like death in the family or any other medical emergencies, passengers will be allowed without any of the formalities except collecting swabs of the travellers for a COVID test. Most appropriate action would be taken depending on the test result as per the protocol, the order clarified. - Malls may reopen: CM Yediyurappa Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday said that the government is looking forward to reopening of malls in the city with some restrictions. The decision in this regard will be taken soon. Malls association members have met and I will discuss the matter with my cabinet colleagues. No decision regarding the reopening of malls have been made so far. The matter will be further discussed and a decision may also come soon, added Yediyurappa. The Shopping Centres Association of India members met Yediyurappa earlier in the day and requested him to allow reopening of malls from next week. G M Nandish of Garuda Mall said that we have requested to allow reopening of the mall from 9 am to 9 pm. We have assured that all the precautions and conditions regarding the safety, security of the people will be strictly followed. According to the sources, the requests have also been made to waive the rent or license fees in the government buildings. The CM has asked for some time to discuss the matter with officials, he added. - Loss of businesses due to covid-led lockdown Amid financial constraints due to closure of malls, property tax has not been waived yet. The fixed charges of electricity are being levied, said representatives of malls. We have sought its waiver and financial assistance of any kind. Currently the state has some 84 malls in the state, transacting the business of about Rs 40,000 to 45,000 crore annually. Their continued shutdown will leave lakhs of employees without jobs gradually bringing them onto the streets, representatives said. The management has been paying salaries to employees for now, they added. BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta is also of the view that malls can be allowed to function with restrictions–like operating with 50 per cent capacity only–can be implemented. Strict vigil has to be maintained at food courts especially. - Students studying in higher education to be inoculated within 10 days Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwathnarayan stated on Tuesday that all the students studying in various higher education courses in the state will get inoculated within 10 days. The students of ITI, polytechnic, engineering, medical, paramedical, diploma, medical diploma courses, those registered under the Chief Minister’s skill development scheme will also be included in the same, clarified head of COVID-19 ministerial task force. 94,000 students (pursuing higher education) were inoculated on June 28 (Monday) and authorities concerned have been asked to vaccinate all students under this group in 10 days,” he added. The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted that 60 lakh vaccine doses were supplied to the state in June and it would increase the supply in the coming months.

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Chamoli: Valley of Flowers open for tourists

On June 1 every year, a world heritage site which has over 300 species of flowers is opened for visitors from across the world and closed on October 31 as the area remains snow-bound after that. This year, however, due to the state government’s Covid-19 curfew, the of flowers didn’t open as per routine in June. The chief wildlife warden on Tuesday asked the director of VoF to open the valley to boost the economy of the state through tourism. Based in district, the administration of VoF has decided to open the valley from Wednesday for the tourists. “It is compulsory for the tourists, entering the valley, to bring their covid-19 report which should not be more than 72-hour old. It can be RTPCR/TRUNET/CBNAAT/RAT Covid negative report. The tourists will have to follow all the Covid-19 guidelines laid by the state government. We expect Covid appropriate behaviour from the tourists,” director of Valley of Flowers Amit Kanwar said. He added, “We spotted at least 50 species of flowers including blue poppy and fritillaria. Both the flowers fall under the endangered category. While critically endangered Dactylorhiza was also spotted by us. The valley is in full bloom and our staff has cleared the path to welcome the tourists.”

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Tourism back with a bang in Himachal

With Covid-19 restrictions being lifted in Himachal Pradesh since June 14, the state’s tourism and hospitality industry is finally back on track. The state cabinet decided to do away with the condition for an e-pass for entering the state on June 23. Ever since, the influx of tourists has grown by the day, particularly during the weekend. Hotels in Shimla were packed to capacity last weekend and tourists had to spend the night in their vehicles, while others went up further to Mashobra and Kufri to find accommodation. More than 22,000 vehicles of tourists had entered Shimla and adjoining areas over the weekend. “The hotel occupancy in Shimla was 100% on Saturday (June 26) and more than 60% on Sunday (June 27). This is a good sign for the industry that had been reeling under the impact of the pandemic,” said Gopal Aggarwal, the chief adviser of the Tourism Industry Stakeholders’ Association. A huge influx of tourists was witnessed in Manali, McLeodganj, Dalhousie, Khajjiar, Chail and Kasauli. The buzz also returned to Triund, the popular trekkers’ destination overlooking Dharamshala town, where more than 1,000 people reached during the weekend. All roads lead to hill state According to data released by the state police, since June 14 when the Covid curfew was lifted, a total of 2.57 lakh vehicles entered the state. Of these, 1.31 lakh vehicles entered between June 13 and 20 and 1.26 lakh between June 21 and 27. That adds up to an average of 18,370 vehicles a day. Authorities on the guard The heavy influx of tourists has left the authorities concerned as many were found not adhering to the Covid-19 safety protocol of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. According to the police, 3,620 challans were issued for mask violation during this period and a fine of ₹20.05 lakh was realised. Besides, ₹17,000 was realised for violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, while ₹3,500 was recovered for driving without a mask.

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Maldives to lift ban on travel from South Asia on July 15

Maldives is to reopen borders to travelers from South Asia next month. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced this at a press conference held on Tuesday, as well as further eases to Covid-19 restrictions including reduced curfew hours. While the president said that they plan to reopen borders for travelers from South Asian countries on July 15, he added that this will be finalized after monitoring the country’s Covid-19 situation in the upcoming days. Further, work permit holders can travel back now. Authorities halted issuing visas to travelers from South Asia on May 11, as the Covid-19 situation worsened and health officials confirmed a fourth coronavirus wave. Since then, Maldives has confirmed new Covid-19 variants including Delta strain first discovered in neighboring India. The pause on visas for travelers from South Asia has impacted the past two month’s tourist arrivals numbers as well. While the first four months saw high number of arrivals with it surpassing 100,000 in March, numbers in May and June have been relatively low. Maldives saw an alarming spike in Covid-19 cases towards the end of April. With more than 1,000 new cases daily, number of fatalities increased as well. May saw the highest number of Covid-19 fatalities in a single month, 88 deaths, while 111 were confirmed between April 28 and June 5. This led to the strengthening of Covid-19 safety measures across the country especially the epicenter capital Male’ City in mid-May. While reported daily cases and hospitalizations have been decreasing since, recoveries continue to increase. With this development, authorities began relaxing Covid-19 restrictions on May 26. Maldives reopened its border on 15th July 2020, after nearly four months of closure following the confirmation of the first Covid-19 cases in the island nation.

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